Modular embedded compute appliance docking board, and methods and systems for the same

ABSTRACT

A docking board removably coupled to a processor board that does not function when not operatively coupled to the docking board. The docking board sends power to and receive a control signal from the processor board when operatively coupled to the processor board and does not send power and does not receive a control signal when not operatively coupled to the processor board. The docking board is removably coupled to an expansion board that performs a computer function that is not performed by the processor board and the docking board. The docking board sends power and a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board, and does not send power and does not send a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is not operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/788,877, filed Feb. 12, 2020, entitled “Modular Embedded ComputeAppliance Docking Board, and Methods and Systems for the Same”, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,712,778, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 62/925,789, filed Oct. 25, 2019 and entitled“Modular Embedded Compute Appliance Docking Board,” each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of computers/digitalprocessing systems, and in particular to methods and apparatus relatedto a docking board, to which portable expansion boards can be securelyattached to form a modern computer.

BACKGROUND

A modular compute appliance can be a useful form of a computer for anumber of reasons. For example, a modular function-based computeappliance can be easier to produce by separately producing eachfunction-based board. Moreover, a modular function-based computeappliance can be advantageously produced by specialized focus on designof each function-based board rather than a general effort on managinginvasive complexity of a multifunctional dense computer boards.

Dense computer boards generate greater electrical noise, thermal noise,and electromagnetic interference compared to less dense computer boards.Moreover, it can be invasive and expensive to improve a design of adense computer board to reduce its electrical noise, thermal noise,electromagnetic interference, and other deficiencies from its initialstage design of the dense computer board. Therefore, design deficienciesof dense computer boards that lead to electrical noise, thermal noise,and electromagnetic interference often remain in the dense computerboards as persistent product defects.

Design of dense computer boards typically involves planning aboutfunctions to be supported by the dense computer boards. Planning hasbeen an effective approach in known design approaches for the densecomputer boards that have large power supplies. In design of non-modularportable computers and embedded systems where design area of their boardis limited, cost effectiveness and performance of the portable computersand the embedded systems are reduced.

Known embedded computers each typically includes a processor, a memory,a storage, a networking component(s), and other peripherals soldered onor directly connected to a main board (also called “the motherboard”).Increased noise levels in the form of an electrical noise, a thermalnoise, an electromagnetic interference, and other deficiencies canmanifest in degraded performance of embedded computers. Thus, a needexists for a cleaner and more modular approach, which allows for adifferent primary function for each function-based peripherals connectedto that board.

SUMMARY

A docking board is removably couplable to a processor board that doesnot function when not operatively coupled to the docking board. Thedocking board sends power to and receives a control signal from theprocessor board when operatively coupled to the processor board and doesnot send power and does not receive a control signal when notoperatively coupled to the processor board. The docking board isremovably couplable to an expansion board that performs a computerfunction that is not performed by the processor board and the dockingboard. The docking board sends power and a control signal to theexpansion board when the docking board is operatively coupled to theprocessor board and the expansion board, and does not send power anddoes not send a control signal to the expansion board when the dockingboard is not operatively coupled to the processor board and theexpansion board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic description of a portable computer, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a schematic description of a portable computer, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 1C is a schematic description of a portable computer shown in FIG.1A in an instance where the processor board is not operative coupled tothe docketing board.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a portablecomputer, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a portablecomputer, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a portablecomputer, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Non-limiting examples of various aspects and variations of theembodiments are described herein and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

One or more embodiments described herein generally relate to embeddedcomputers, and in particular, methods, apparatus, and systems that use amodular compute appliance to increase quality, simplicity of production,cost effectiveness, and engineering quality of the total system. Modulardesign reduces possible design requirements and reduces costs associatedwith designs of more complex systems. Modular design further enables amore specialized approach in designing expansion boards. Methods andsystems of modular embedded compute appliance docking board aredisclosed.

Described herein are modular compute appliances that are suitable forhighly reliable and secure portable computer systems. Function-basedboards of the compute appliance can be as small as a card (e.g., acredit card, an access key card, etc.) as to be easily carried inpockets or wallets. Function-based boards can be dependent on a dockingboard for power supply and control signals from a processor board. Onthe other hand, the modular compute appliances can be dependent onfunction-based boards for board specific functions such as networking,memory, encryption, virtual reality, and so forth. Function-basedboards, given their compact form factor and function-specific design,can achieve high signal integrity (SI) for power and signals sentbetween the docking board and the function-based boards.

Embodiments described herein provide methods and systems for organizinga modular compute appliance (also referred to herein as a portablecomputer) into function-based boards. Function-based boards can havedifferent portable sizes (e.g., size of a credit card, size of asmartphone screen, etc.), can have different functions (e.g.,networking, satellite communication, additional storage, etc.), and canbe removably coupled to a docking board. Modularizing the portablecomputer allows manufacturers of each function-based board to have aspecialized and flexible approach in design of a specific function ofthe function-based board, without redesigning the modular computeappliance for different computers.

FIG. 1A is a schematic description of a modular compute appliance (alsoreferred to herein as a “portable computer”) 100A, according to anembodiment. The modular compute appliance 100A can include the dockingboard 101A, the processor board 104A, the expansion board 110A, and/oran expansion board 120A. The docking board 101A can be configured to beoperatively coupled to the processor board 104A, the expansion board110A, and/or the expansion board 120A through a system bus (for example,address bus, data bus, and/or control bus, not shown). The docking board101A can be used to send power (e.g., a direct current (DC) electricpower, an alternating current (AC) electric power, etc.) and receive aset of signals (e.g., a DC electric signal, an AC electric signal, anradio frequency (RF) signal etc.) in response to a processor board(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) board, etc.) being coupled or inresponse to an expansion board (e.g., a memory board, etc.) beingcoupled. For example, the docking board 101A can include a processor orcontroller (not shown) to control the sending of power, receivingsignals, etc. as described herein. The modular compute appliance 100Acan include, in addition to the docking board 101A, a set offunction-based boards including a processor board 104A and/or anexpansion board 110A. The modular compute appliance 100A can beconnected to a set of readers 180A (also referred to herein as “the setof peripheral devices” and “peripherals”) via a connector(s) (not shownin FIG. 1A).

The docking board 101A can include a power supply or be removablycoupled to a power supply. The docking board 101A has full control ofpower distribution between the boards within the modular computeappliance 100A. For example, a processor or controller of the dockingboard 101A can send power to processor board 104A and/or the expansionboard 110A. In some implementations, the docking board 101A can send afirst power to the processor board 104A and/or the expansion board 110Ato authenticate the processor board 104A and/or the expansion board 110A(e.g., send the first power to an authentication circuit, such as anintegrated circuit (IC) chip that performs the authentication). Thefirst power can be sent in response to the processor board 104A and/orthe expansion board 110A being operatively coupled to the docking board101A. The docking board 101A can send a second power, different than thefirst power (e.g., different in power magnitude, in voltages, or incurrents), to the processor board 104A and/or the expansion board 110Aafter and/or in response to authenticating the processor board 104Aand/or the expansion board 110A to operate them in full capacity. Forexample, the first power can be 3vdc and used to authenticate theprocessor board and/or expansion board, and the second power can be 5vdcfor operating the processor board and/or expansion board. For anotherexample, the first power can 12 vdc and the second power can be 5 vdc.For yet another example, the first power can be 5 vdc at 400 ma currentand the second power can be 5 vdc at 500 ma current. For yet anotherexample, the first power can be 5vdc at 500 ma current and the secondpower can be 50 vdc at 500 ma current. Thus, the first power and thesecond power can differ by any of the voltage, current and/or wattage.

In some other implementations, the docking board 101A can send power tothe processor board 104A and/or the expansion board 110A to authenticatethe processor board 104A and/or the expansion board 110A. For example,the power can be sent to an authentication circuit such as an integratedcircuit (IC) chip that performs the authentication. The power can besent in response to the processor board 104A and/or the expansion board110A being operatively coupled to the docking board 101A. In suchimplementations, power is not sent to remaining portions of theprocessor board 104A and/or the expansion board 110A until theauthentication circuit has authenticated the respective board. After theauthentication circuit has authenticated the respective board, the powercan be sent to the remaining portions of the processor board 104A and/orthe expansion board 110A.

The docking board 101A can include a first power filter 102A and asecond power filter 103A. The docking board 101A can supply power to thefunction-based boards (such as expansion boards 110A and 120A), and canbe configured further to facilitate a set of peripheral boards (alsoreferred to herein as “the set of readers”) via, for example, a set ofmemory buses, a set of signal receivers, a set of signal transmitters, aset of wired networking, a set of wireless networking, a set of opticalnetworking, a set of video systems, a set of monitors, and/or the like(not shown in FIG. 1A).

The docking board 101A can be configured to facilitate, instead of or inaddition to the set of peripheral boards, a set of peripheral connectorssuch as for example, a universal serial bus (USB) connector(s), a USB2.0 connector(s), a USB 3.0 connector(s), a mini USB connector(s), amicro USB connector(s), a USB-c connector(s), a high definitionmultimedia interface (HDMI) connector(s), a video graphics arrayconnector(s), a general purpose input/output (GPIO) connector(s), ageneral purpose interface bus (GPIB or IEEE-488) connector(s), and/orthe like. The set of peripheral connectors can be a power or signalmedium that connects to a set of connector interfaces. The set ofconnector interfaces can be integrated in the docking board 101A and/orcan be integrated in a peripheral board from the set of peripheralboards. In one example, a peripheral connector (e.g., a copper wirehaving two ends and with one male USB connector at each end) can have acorresponding type A USB 3.0 receptacle (female connector) located atthe docking board 101A and a type A USB 3.0 receptacle at a peripheralsuch as a projector video system.

The processor board 104A can include, for example, a hardware-basedintegrated circuit (IC) or any other suitable processing deviceconfigured to run or execute a set of instructions or a set of codes.For example, the processor board 104A can include a general purposeprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), an accelerated processingunit (APU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic array (PLA), acomplex programmable logic device (CPLD), a programmable logiccontroller (PLC), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and/or the like. Theprocessor board 104A can additionally include a memory, such as, forexample, a CPU cache memory or a random-access memory (RAM). Includingthe memory on the processor board 104A can allow reduce average timeand/or average energy used to process data. The general-purposeprocessor can be operatively coupled to the memory through a system bus(for example, address bus, data bus, and/or control bus, not shown).

The expansion board 110A and/or the expansion board 120A can include ahardware-based IC or can be any other suitable electronic boardconfigured to provide at least one functionally. In one embodiment, theexpansion board 110A or the expansion board 120A can have one functionsuch as, for example, networking, storage, and/or the like. In oneembodiment, the expansion board 110A and/or the expansion board 120A canhave multiple functions such as, for example, networking and streaming,storage and authenticating, and/or the like. The flexibility of havingone or more functions on the expansion board 110A and/or the expansionboard 120A allows flexibility in circuit and overall system design.

The set of readers 180A can be set of ancillary devices used to inputinformation to the modular compute appliance 100A or output informationfrom the modular compute appliance 100A. The set of readers 180A caninclude, for example, a keyboard(s), a mouse(s), a monitor(s), awebcam(s), a microphone(s), a touch screen(s), a printer(s), ascanner(s), a virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display, a speaker(s), aheadphone(s), a gamepad(s), a joystick(s), a biometric reader(s), and/orthe like (not shown).

The modular compute appliance 100A can connect the docking board 101A,via a set of high signal integrity (SI) power and signal connectors, tothe processor board 104A, the expansion board 110A, and/or the expansionboard 120A. A high SI power and signal connectors 151A can connect theprocessor board 104A to the docking board 101A, a high SI power andsignal connectors 152A can connect the expansion board 110A (e.g.,additional networking board) to the docking board 101A, and/or a high SIpower and signal connectors 153A can connect the expansion board 120A(e.g., additional storage board and additional networking board) to thedocking board 101A.

In some implementations, the high SI power and signal connectors 151Acan establish a connection between the processor board 104A and thedocking board 101A for information processing and providing power tooperate the processor board 104A. The information processing can be doneby, for example, a processor board that synchronizes and controlsoperations of the modular compute appliance 100A, the expansion board101A, the expansion board 120A, and/or the set of readers 180A. When theconnection between the processor board 104A and the docking board 101Ais established, the processor board 104A and the docking board 101A arethen operatively coupled in the sense that the docking board 101A cansend power to the processor board 104A and the processor board 104A cansend a set of control signals to the docking board 101A. The connectionbetween the processor board 104A and the docking board 101A is removablein the sense that the processor board 104A, when removed from thedocking board 101A, is not operatively coupled as shown in FIG. 1C, doesnot receive power from the docking board 101A, does not send controlsignal to the docking board 101A and does not function. In one example,the docking board 101A is the only source of power to the processorboard 104A, and removing the processor board 104A from the docketingboard 101A stops operation of the expansion board 104A to an extent thatthe expansion board 110A cannot operate alone without being removablyconnected to the docking board 101A.

In some implementations, the high SI power and signal connectors 152Aestablish a connection between the expansion board 110A to the dockingboard 101A, such that the expansion board 110A is removably coupled tothe docking board 101A. The expansion board 110A can be added forexample to provide networking function when the expansion board 110A isoperatively coupled to the docking board 101A. The additional networkingfunction can be, for example, a wireless router board that acts as amobile Wi-Fi™ hotspot. When the connection between the expansion board110A and the docking board 101A is established, the expansion board 110Aand the docking board 101A are then operatively coupled, in the sensethat the docking board 101A can be configured to send power and direct acontrol signal from the processor board 104A to the expansion board 110Aand the expansion board 110A can send a set of networking signals to thedocking board 101A. The connection between the expansion board 110A andthe docking board 101A is removable in the sense that the expansionboard 110A, when removed from the docking board 101A, is not operativelycoupled, does not receive power and/or control signal from the dockingboard 101A, and does not send networking signals to the docking board101A. In one example, the docking board 101A is the only source of powerto the expansion board 110A and removing the expansion board 110A stopsoperation of the expansion board 110A to an extent that the expansionboard 110A cannot operate alone without being removably connected to thedocking board 101A.

In some implementations, the high SI power and signal connectors 153Aestablish a connection between the expansion board 120A to the dockingboard 101A, such that the expansion board 120A is removably coupled tothe docking board 101A. The expansion board 120A can be added to providestorage function when the expansion board 120A is operatively coupled tothe docking board 101A. The additional storage function can be, forexample, a solid-state storage board that acts as a database. After theconnection between the expansion board 120A and the docking board 101Ais established, the expansion board 120A and the docking board 101A arethen operatively coupled, in the sense that the docking board 101A cansend power and direct a control signal from the processor board 104A tothe expansion board 110A and the expansion board 110A can send a set ofdata transfer signals to the docking board 101A. The connection betweenthe expansion board 120A and the docking board 101A is removable in thesense that the expansion board 120A, when removed from the docking board101A, is not operatively coupled, does not receive power and/or controlsignal from the docking board 101A, and does not send data transfersignals to the docking board 101A. In one example, the docking board101A provides the only source of power to the expansion board 120A andremoving the expansion board 120A stops operation of the expansion board120A to an extent that the expansion board 120A cannot operate alonewithout being operably connected to the docking board 101A.

In one implementation, the expansion board 110A or the expansion board120A can connect directly to a power supply for board-level functions.The board-level functions refer to electronic operation performed by theexpansion board 110A and in some instances do not include non-electronicoperations (e.g., running a turbine engine) performed by the expansionboard 110. In one example, all power used to operate the expansion board110A can be provided directly by the power supply in form of the ACelectric power and/or the DC electric power. In another example, a firstpart of the power used to operate the expansion board 120A can beprovided directly by the power supply in form of the AC electric powerand/or the DC electric power, and a second part of the power used tooperate the expansion board 120A can be provided by an internal powersupply (e.g., an energy harvesting device, a photovoltaic device, alithium ion battery, an AC adaptor, etc.) integrated in the expansionboard 120A.

In one implementation, the expansion board 110A or the expansion board120A can be operatively couple to a peripheral device (e.g., a laserpointer, a GPS locator, etc.) from the set of peripheral devices 180A.The docking board 101A can be configured to send power in a first powerconfiguration to the expansion board 110A when the expansion board 110Ais connected to a first peripheral device (not shown). The docking board101A can be configured to send power in a second power configuration tothe expansion board 110A when the expansion board 110A is connected to asecond peripheral device. In an example, the docking board 101A can beconfigured to send a 5 Volts DC electric power to the expansion board110A when connected to a laser pointer peripheral device. In anotherexample, the docking board 101A can be configured to send a 220 Volts ACelectric power to the expansion board 110A when connected to a lightdetection and ranging (LiDAR) peripheral device.

In one implementation, the docking board 101A can be configured to sendpower in the first power configuration to the expansion board 110A whenthe expansion board 110A is connected to a peripheral device of a type.The type can refer to, for example, a technical standard, a qualitystandard, a security standard, a set of functional and/or technicalcharacteristics, and/or a manufacturer. Additionally, the docking board101A can be configured to send power in a second power configuration tothe expansion board 110A when the expansion board 110A is connected to aperipheral device not of the type. In an example, the docking board 101Acan be configured to send a 10-milliwatt electric power to the expansionboard 110A when connected to a fifth generation (5G) type network board.In another example, the docking board 101A can be configured to send a200-milliwatt electric power to the expansion board 110A when connectedto a long term evolution (LTE) network board which is not of the 5G typenetwork board.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the docking board 101A includes a first powerfilter 102A and a second power filter 103A. The docking board 101A caninclude a power conditioner (not shown) to connect the first powerfilter 102A to the expansion board 110A when connected to a firstperipheral device 180A, and to connect the second power filter 103A tothe expansion board 110A when connected to a second peripheral device180A. The first power filter 102A and/or the second power filter 103Acan be a printed circuit board including circuitry for filtering and/orpower conversion such as, for example, electromagnetic interference(EMI) filter, low-pass filter, high-pass filter, band-path filter,AC-to-DC converter, voltage converter, and/or any other suitableelectric circuitry for adjusting electric power levels, electric powertypes, and/or lowering electric power noises. In one example, thedocking board 101A can be configured to select the first power filter102A to send 12 Volts DC electric power to the expansion board 110A,when the expansion board 110A is not connected to any peripheral device.The docking board 101A can be configured further to select the secondpower filter 103A to send 110 Volts AC electric power to the expansionboard 110A, when the expansion board 110A is connected to a peripheraldevice such as satellite communication receiver board.

The docking board 101A can receive a control signal from the expansionboard 110A and/or the expansion board 120A and can send a control signalto the processor board 104A based on the control signal received fromthe expansion board 110A and/or 120A. In one example, the expansionboard 120A can include a graphical processing unit (GPU) that performs aset of specialized modular arithmetic tasks faster than the CPU of theprocessor board 104A. The CPU can be configured to send a first set ofcontrol signals and a first data to the GPU to perform a series ofmodular arithmetic tasks. The GPU can be configured to perform theseries of modular arithmetic tasks on the first data based on the firstset of control signals and send a second data and a second set ofcontrol signals from the GPU to the CPU.

The docking board 101A is configured to be operatively disposed betweenthe processor board 104A and the expansion board 110A when operativelycoupled to the processor board 104A and operatively coupled to theexpansion board 110A, such that the processor board 104A and theexpansion board 110A do not exchange a signal without passing throughthe docking board 101A. In one example, the expansion board 110A can bea wireless communication board that receives and transmits data viaradio frequency electromagnetic signals during operations. The processorboard 104A send a set of signals, carrying data and/or control commands,to the docking board 101A to be directed to the expansion board 110A.The docking board 101A can receive the set of signals from the processorboard 104A and direct the set of signals to the expansion board 110A totransmit the data via radio frequency electromagnetic signals.

The docking board 101A can authenticate the expansion board 110A inresponse to the expansion board 110A being operatively coupled to thedocking board 101A. An authentication of the expansion board 110A caninclude exchanging power and/or a set of tokens between the expansionboard 110A and the docking board 101A. The set of tokens can be forexample a set of passwords, a set of codes, a set of electric signals, aset of electromagnetic signals, and/or the like. The docking board 101Acan be configured to send a first power to the expansion board 110A inresponse to being operatively coupled to the docking board 101A andbefore authenticating the expansion board 110A. The first power can be asmall amount of power sufficient to operate an authentication circuit onthe expansion board 110A (e.g., an integrated circuit (IC) chip thatperforms the authentication). After authenticating the expansion board110A, the docking board 101A can then send a second power to theexpansion board 110A. The second power can be different than the firstpower and sufficient to operate the remaining portions of the expansionboard 110A. The docking board 101A can send a control signal to theexpansion board 110A after authenticating the expansion board 110A. Thedocking board 101A can further to not send the control signal to theexpansion board before authenticating the expansion board 110A.

Similarly, the docking board 101A can authenticate the processor board104A in response to the processor board 104A being operatively coupledto the docking board 101A. An authentication of the processor board 104Acan include exchanging power and/or a set of tokens between theprocessor board 104A and the docking board 101A. The set of tokens canbe for example a set of passwords, a set of codes, a set of electricsignals, a set of electromagnetic signals, and/or the like. The dockingboard 101A can be configured to send a first power to the processorboard 104A in response to being operatively coupled to the docking board101A and before authenticating the processor board 104A. The first powercan be a small amount of power sufficient to operate an authenticationcircuit on the processor board 104A. After authenticating the processorboard 104A, the docking board 101A can then send a second power to theprocessor board 104A. The second power can be greater than the firstpower and sufficient to operate the remaining portions of the processorboard 104A. The docking board 101A can further send a control signal tothe processor board 104A after authenticating the processor board 104A.The docking board 101A can further choose to not send the control signalto the expansion board before authenticating the processor board 104A.

FIG. 1B is a schematic description of a modular compute appliance (alsoreferred to herein as a “portable computer”) 100B, according to anembodiment. The modular compute appliance 100B includes a docking board101B (similar to the docking board 101A described above with respect toFIG. 1A) used to send power (e.g., a direct current (DC) electric power,an alternating current (AC) electric power, etc.) and receive a set ofsignals (e.g., a DC electric signal, an AC electric signal, an radiofrequency (RF) signal etc.) in response to a processor board (e.g., acentral processing unit (CPU) board, etc.) or an expansion board (e.g.,a memory board, etc.). The modular compute appliance 100B includes, inaddition to the docking board 101B, a set of function-based boards suchas, for example, a processor board 110B (similar to the processor board104A described above with respect to FIG. 1A), and a set of expansionboards 120B. The modular compute appliance 100B can be connected to aset of readers (not shown here and similar to the set of readers 180Adescribed above with respect to FIG. 1A) via a connector.

The set of expansion boards 120B can be, for example, a hardware basedintegrated circuit (IC) board, a printed circuit board (PCB), or anyother suitable electronic board configured to provide at least onespecialized functionally. In one embodiment, each expansion board fromthe set of expansion boards 120B can have a single specialized functionsuch as, for example, networking, storage, and/or the like. In oneembodiment, each expansion board from the set of expansion boards 120Bcan have multiple functions such as, for example, networking andstreaming, both storage and authenticating, and/or the like. Havingflexibility of having one or more functions on the set of expansionboards 120B enables flexibility and cost effectiveness in circuit designand in system design. Each expansion board from the set of expansionboards 120B can be configured to establish a connection to the dockingboard 101B via a high SI power and signal connectors.

One or more expansion boards from the set of expansion boards 120B canbe memory boards configured to be removably coupled to the docking board101B. Each memory board can be, for example, a memory buffer, a randomaccess memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a hard drive, a flashdrive, a secure digital (SD) memory card, a compact disk (CD), anexternal hard drive, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),an embedded multi-time programmable (MTP) memory, an embeddedmulti-media card (eMMC), a universal flash storage (UFS) device, and/orthe like. Each memory board can store, for example, one or more softwareboards and/or code that includes instructions to cause a processor (suchas the processor board 110B) to perform control procedures, arithmeticprocedures, and/or logical procedures.

One or more expansion boards from the set of expansion boards 120B canbe communication interface boards configured to be removably coupled tothe docking board 101B, and configured to connect the docking board 101Bthe processor board 110B, and/or an expansion board from the set ofexpansion boards 120B to a network. Each communication interface boardcan be, for example, a network interface card (NIC), a Wi-Fi™ board, aBluetooth® board, an optical communication board, and/or any othersuitable wired and/or wireless communication interface. In someinstances, each communication interface board can facilitate receivingor transmitting data via the network. More specifically, in someimplementations, each communication interface board can facilitatereceiving or transmitting data through the network from or to a modularcompute appliance.

The network can be a digital telecommunication network of servers and/orcompute devices. The servers and/or computes device on the network canbe connected via one or more wired or wireless communication networks(not shown) to share resources such as, for example, data storage orcomputing power. The wired or wireless communication networks betweenservers and/or compute devices of the network can include one or morecommunication channels, for example, a radio frequency (RF)communication channel(s), an extremely low frequency (ELF) communicationchannel(s), an ultra-low frequency (ULF) communication channel(s), a lowfrequency (LF) communication channel(s), a medium frequency (MF)communication channel(s), an ultra-high frequency (UHF) communicationchannel(s), an extremely high frequency (EHF) communication channel(s),a fiber optic commination channel(s), an electronic communicationchannel(s), a satellite communication channel(s), and/or the like. Thenetwork can be, for example, the Internet, an intranet, a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network(MAN), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access network(WiMAX®), a virtual network, any other suitable communication systemand/or a combination of such networks.

One or more expansion boards from the set of expansion boards 120B canbe sound interface boards configured to be removably coupled to thedocking board 101B, and configured to provide audio signals to and fromthe docking board 101B the processor board 110B, and/or an expansionboard from the set of expansion boards 120B. Each sound interface boardcan be, for example, a consumer-grade sound interface board, anenvironmental audio expansion, a sound interface board withanalog-to-digital (AD) and digital-to-analog (DA) converters, ahigh-definition sound interface, and/or the like. In some instances,each sound interface board can facilitate receiving or transmittingaudio signals via a peripheral device (e.g., a microphone, a speaker,etc.). More specifically, in some implementations, a sound interfaceboard can receive and/or transmit audio signals from or to the dockingboard 101B connected to the peripheral device configured to receiveand/or transmit audio signals from or to the docking board 101B. In someimplementations, a sound interface board can include an integratedperipheral unit (e.g., a microphone, a speaker, etc.) to receive and/ortransmit audio signals from or to a user, and further configured toreceive and/or transmit the audio signals to the docking board 101B.

One or more expansion boards from the set of expansion boards 120B canbe graphic interface boards configured to be removably coupled to thedocking board 101B, and configured to provide signals to and from thedocking board 101B the processor board 110B, and/or an expansion boardfrom the set of expansion boards 120B. Each graphic interface board canbe connected to the docking board 101B via, for example, an industrystandard architecture (ISA), peripheral component interconnect (PCI),peripheral component interconnect extended (PCI-X), accelerated graphicsport (AGP), and/or the like. Each graphic interface board can beconnected to a peripheral device (e.g., a monitor, a projector, atelevision, etc.) via, for example, a video graphics array (VGA)connector, high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) and/or the like.In some implementations, a graphic interface board can receive and/ortransmit video signals from or to the docking board 101B connected to aperipheral device configured to receive and/or transmit video signalsfrom or to the docking board 101B. In some implementations, a graphicinterface board can include an integrated peripheral unit (e.g., adisplay, a camera, etc.) to receive and/or transmit video signals fromor to a user, and further configured to receive and/or transmit thevideo signals to the docking board 101B.

One or more expansion boards from the set of expansion boards 120B canbe encryption boards configured to be removably coupled to the dockingboard 101B, and configured to provide signals to and from the dockingboard 101B, the processor board 110B, and/or an expansion board from theset of expansion boards 120B. In some implementation, an encryptionboard can be a hardware-based encryption board operatively connected tothe docking board 101B. In one example, the hardware-based encryptionboard can operate individually to encrypt a message received, via thedocking board 101B, from a processor board. In another example, thehardware-based encryption board can operate together with a set ofsoftware codes being executed at the processor board.

One or more expansion boards from the set of expansion boards 120B canbe a sensor fusion board configured to be removably coupled to thedocking board 101B, and configured to provide signals to and from thedocking board 101B, the processor board 110B, and/or an expansion boardfrom the set of expansion boards 120B. In one example the sensor fusionboard is light detection and ranging (LiDAR) board including a set oflight emitters and a set of light sensors collectively configured todetect objects in the three dimensional space surrounding the LiDARboard. The sensor fusion board can be configured to send sensor data,via the docking board 101B, to the processor board and further receive aset of instruction from the processor board.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method 200 of operating a portablecomputer (e.g., portable computer 100A described above with respect toFIG. 1A), according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, at 201, poweris sent from a docking board (similar to the docking board 101Adescribed above with respect to FIG. 1A) to a processor board (similarto the processor board 104A described above with respect to FIG. 1A)when the docking board and the processor board are operatively coupledtogether. The processor board does not function and the docking boarddoes not send power to the processor board when the docking board andthe processor board are not operatively coupled together. At 202, acontrol signal is received at the docking board from the processor boardwhen the docking board and the processor board are operatively coupledtogether. The docking board does not receive a control signal when notoperatively coupled to the processor board. At 203, power and a controlsignal is sent from the docking board to an expansion board (similar tothe expansion board 110A and/or the expansion board 120A described abovewith respect to FIG. 1A) when the docking board and the processor boardare operatively coupled together. The expansion board can perform acomputer function that is not performed by the processor board and thedocking board. At 204, power and a control signal is not sent from thedocking board to the expansion board when the docking board is notoperatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board. Thedocking board, the processor board, and the expansion board collectivelydefine a portable computer when the docking board is operatively coupledto the processor board and the expansion board. Optionally, at 205, acontrol signal can be received at the docking board from the expansionboard. Also, optionally, at 206, a control signal can be sent from thedocking board to the processor board based on the control signalreceived from the expansion board. The method 200 is explained ingreater detail below.

At 201, the docking board sends power to a processor board when thedocking board and the processor board are operatively coupled together.The processor board does not function and the docking board does notsend power to the processor board when the docking board and theprocessor board are not operatively coupled together. The docking board,when operatively coupled to the processor board, sends power to theprocessor board in a power configuration. The power configuration isdefined by an electromagnetic medium requirement, a wattage requirement,a voltage requirement, and/or a current requirement. The powerconfiguration can be for example, a direct current (DC) electric powerrequirement and 5 volts of voltage requirement, an alternating current(AC) electric power requirement with 100 milliwatts of wattagerequirement, an electromagnetic induction power requirement, and/or thelike. The docking board, when not operatively coupled to the processorboard, does not send power to the processor board in a powerconfiguration.

In one example, the docking board and the processor board each includesa set of electrically conducting pins when the electrically conductingpins are not in physical contact to conduct electric current, thedocking board and the processor board are not operatively coupled, thedocking board does not direct electric power to the processor board, andthe processor board does not function. When the docking board and theprocessor board are connected together via an electric medium (such asthe pins), the docking board transmits a first token, via the electricmedium, to the processor board, and the processor boards transmits asecond token, via the electric medium, to the processor board. If thefirst token does not authenticate the docking board to the processorboard and/or if the second token does not authenticate the processorboard to the docking board, the processor board does not operativelyconnect to the docket board, and the docking board does not send powerto the processor board.

At 202, the docking board receives a control signal from the processorboard when the docking board and the processor board are operativelycoupled together. The docking board does not receive a control signalwhen not operatively coupled to the processor board. In one example, thecontrol signal can be a DC electric current or an AC electric currentsent from the processor board to the docking board, so that the dockingboard performs an operation in response to receiving the control signal.In another example, the control signal can be a set of radio frequency(RF) electromagnetic (EM) waves sent from the processor board to thedocking board to perform a set of operations in response to receivingthe RF EM waves.

At 203, the docking board sends power and a control signal to theexpansion board when the docking board and the processor board areoperatively coupled together. The expansion board can perform a computerfunction that is not performed by the processor board and the dockingboard. The docking board provides power to operate the processor boardand the expansion board, when the docking board is operatively coupledto the processor board and expansion board. The computer functionperformed by the expansion board can be, for example, a networkingfunction, an additional storage function, an additional encryptionfunction, a virtual reality function. The control signal sent from thedocking board to the expansion board can be generated in the dockingboard or can be directed from the processor board to the expansion boardthrough the docketing board. In some implementations, power and thecontrol signal can be sent from the docking board to the expansion boardvia a common connection medium (e.g., a USB connection, a thunderboltconnection, etc.).

In some instances, the computer function performed by the expansionboard can be a set of electrically driven circuit operations that aredifferent from the operation of the processor board. For example, thecomputer function performed by the expansion board can generate soundsignals in a sound interface board, generate graphic signals in agraphic interface board, encrypt data using a specialized encryptionboard, generate a representation of a three-dimensional space using asensor fusion board, detect an object with high reliability and accuracyusing a LiDAR board, and so forth. In some other instances, the computerfunction performed by the expansion board can be a set of electricallydriven circuit operations that are the same as or similar to theoperation of the processor board that further improves or expandsperformance of the processor board. For example, the compute functionperformed by the expansion board can be additional processing core thatenhances the processing power of the processor board, additional memorythat expands capacity of memory on the processor board, additionalnetworking boards that enable transmitting and receiving newtelecommunication standards (e.g. 5G, 6G, etc.), and so forth.

At 204, the docking board does not send power and a control signal tothe expansion board when the docking board is not operatively coupled tothe processor board and the expansion board. In one example, the dockingboard, the processor board, and the expansion board each includes a setof electrically conducting pins that are not in physical contact toconduct electric current when the boards are not connected together.Thus, the docking board and the processor board are not operativelycoupled and/or the docking board and the expansion board are notoperatively coupled when the boards are not connected together. As aresult, the docking board does not send power and the control signal tothe expansion board, and the expansion board does not work when theboards are not connected together.

At 205, the docking board optionally receives a control signal from theexpansion board. The control signal can be, for example, a DC electriccurrent or an AC electric current sent from the expansion board to thedocking board to perform an operation, a set of radio frequency (RF)electromagnetic waves sent from the expansion board to the docking boardto perform a set of operations, and/or the like. In one example, theexpansion board can be a task-specific processor board to perform aseries of arithmetic and/or logical operations of a specific task morequickly and/or cost effectively compared to the processor board. Thespecific task performed by the task-specific processor board can resultin the generation of a specific task control signal. At 206, the dockingboard optionally sends a control signal to the processor board based onthe control signal received from the expansion board. In one example,the expansion board can send the specific task control signal to thedocking board, and the docking board can re-send the specific taskcontrol signal to the processor board or any other boards operativelyconnected to the docking board.

The docking board, the processor board, and the expansion boardcollectively define a portable computer when the docking board isoperatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board. Theportable computer can process information (e.g., using the processorboard), can store information (e.g., using a storage expansion board),can receive and/or transmit information (e.g., using a networkingexpansion board), and perform any other additional computing operationvia an additional expansion board(s) capable being operatively connectedto the docking board. The expansion board(s) (also referred to herein as“function-based boards”) can have different portable sizes (e.g., sizeof a credit card, size of a smartphone screen, etc.) and can beremovably coupled to the docking board.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method 300 of operating a portablecomputer (e.g., portable computer 100A described above with respect toFIG. 1A), according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, at 301, poweris sent from a docking board (similar to the docking board 101Adescribed above with respect to FIG. 1A) to a processor board (similarto the processor board 104A described above with respect to FIG. 1A)when the docking board and the processor board are operatively coupledtogether. The processor board does not function and the docking boarddoes not send power to the processor board when the docking board andthe processor board are not operatively coupled together. The dockingboard sends power to the processor board for example via the methodshown and described above with reference to FIG. 2. At 302, a controlsignal is received at the docking board from the processor board whenthe docking board and the processor board are operatively coupledtogether. The docking board does not receive a control signal when notoperatively coupled to the processor board. The docking board receivesthe control signal from the processor board, for example, via the methodshown and described above with reference to FIG. 2. At 303, power and acontrol signal is sent from the docking board to a first expansion board(e.g., expansion board 110A described above with respect to FIG. 1A)when the docking board and the processor board are operatively coupledtogether. The first expansion board is configured to perform a computerfunction that is not performed by the processor board and the dockingboard. The docking board sends power and the control signal to theexpansion board, for example, via the method shown and described abovewith reference to FIG. 2. At 304, power and a control signal are notsent from the docking board to the first expansion board when thedocking board is not operatively coupled to the processor board and thefirst expansion board. The docking board does not send power and thecontrol signal from the docking board to the expansion board, forexample, via the method shown and described above with reference to FIG.2. The docking board, the processor board and the first expansion boardcollectively define a portable computer when the docking board isoperatively coupled to the processor board and the first expansionboard. At 305, power and a control signal is sent from a docking boardto a second expansion board (e.g., the expansion board 120A describedabove with respect to FIG. 1A) when the docking board, the processorboard, and the second expansion board are operatively coupled together.The second expansion board performs a second computer function that isnot performed by the processor board, the docking board and the firstexpansion board. At 306, power and a control signal are not sent fromthe docking board to the second expansion board when the docking board,the processor board and the second expansion board are not operativelycoupled together. The docking board, the processor board, the firstexpansion board, and the second expansion board collectively definingthe portable computer in a second configuration when the docking board,the processor board, the first expansion board and the second expansionboard are operatively coupled together. The method 300 is explained ingreater detail below.

At 305, the docking board sends power and a control signal to a secondexpansion board when the docking board, the processor board, and thesecond expansion board are operatively coupled together. The secondexpansion board performs a second computer function that is notperformed by the processor board, the docking board and the firstexpansion board. The docking board provides power to operate theprocessor board, the first expansion board, and the second expansionboard when the docking board is operatively coupled to the processorboard. The computer function performed by the expansion board can be,for example, a sound interface board, a graphic interface board, and/orthe like. The control signal sent from the docking board to the secondexpansion board can be generated in the docking board or can be directedfrom the processor board, or the first expansion board to the secondexpansion board.

At 306, the docking board does not send power and a control signal tothe second expansion board when the docking board, the processor boardand the second expansion board are not operatively coupled together. Inone example, the docking board, the processor board, the first expansionboard, and the second expansion board each includes a set ofelectrically conducting pins that are not in physical contact when thedocking board, the processor board are not couple together, the firstexpansion board and the second expansion board. Thus, the docking boardand the processor board are not operatively coupled, the docking boardand the first expansion board are not operatively coupled, and thedocking board and the second expansion board are not operativelycoupled. As a result, the docking board does not send power and thecontrol signal to the second expansion board, and the second expansionboard does not work.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 of operating a portablecomputer (e.g., portable computer 100A described above with respect toFIG. 1A), according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, at 401, poweris sent from a docking board (e.g., docking board 101A described abovewith respect to FIG. 1A) to a processor board (e.g., processor board104A described above with respect to FIG. 1A) when the docking board andthe processor board are operatively coupled together. The processorboard does not function, and the docking board does not send power tothe processor board when the docking board and the processor board arenot operatively coupled together. The docking board can send power tothe processor board via, for example, the method shown and describedabove with reference to FIG. 2. At 402, receiving a control signal isreceived at the docking board from the processor board when the dockingboard and the processor board are operatively coupled together. Thedocking board not receiving a control signal when not operativelycoupled to the processor board. The docking board receives the controlsignal from the processor board via, for example, the method shown anddescribed above with reference to FIG. 2. At 403, power and a controlsignal are sent from the docking board to an expansion board (e.g.,expansion board 110A and/or the expansion board 120A described abovewith respect to FIG. 1A) when the docking board and the processor boardare operatively coupled together. The expansion board is configured toperform a computer function that is not performed by the processor boardand the docking board. The docking board sends power and the controlsignal to the expansion board via, for example, the method shown anddescribed above with reference to FIG. 2. At 404, power and a controlsignal are not sent from the docking board to the expansion board whenthe docking board is not operatively coupled to the processor board andthe expansion board. The docking board, the processor board, and theexpansion board collectively define a portable computer when the dockingboard is operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansionboard. The docking board does not send power and the control signal fromthe docking board to the expansion board via, for example, the methodshown and described above with reference to FIG. 2. At 405, theexpansion board is authenticated at the docking board in response to theexpansion board being operatively coupled to the docking board. At 406,the control signal is sent from the docking board to the expansion boardafter the expansion board is authenticated. At 407, the control signalis not sent from the docking board to the expansion board before theexpansion board is authenticated. At 455, the processor board isauthenticated at the docking board in response to the processor boardbeing operatively coupled to the docking board. At 456, the controlsignal is sent from the docking board to the processor board after theprocessor board is authenticated. At 457, the control signal is not sentfrom the docking board to the processor board before the processor boardis authenticated. The method 400 is explained in greater detail below.

At 405, the docking board authenticates the expansion board in responseto the expansion board being operatively coupled to the docking board.In one implementation, an authentication of the expansion board caninclude exchanging a set of tokens between the expansion board and thedocking board. The set of tokens can be, for example, a set ofpasswords, a set of codes, a set of electric signals, a set ofelectromagnetic signals, and/or the like. At 406, the docking boardsends the control signal to the expansion board after the expansionboard is authenticated. In one implementation, the docking board directsthe control signal generated in the processor board to the expansionboard, after the expansion board and the docking board exchange the setof token to confirm that the expansion board is authentic and iscompatible with the docking board. At 407, the docking board does notsend the control signal to the expansion board before the expansionboard is authenticated. In one example, the docking board does not sendany signal to the expansion board or does not direct any signal from theprocessor board to the expansion board before the set of tokensauthenticate the expansion board.

At 455, the docking board authenticates the processor board in responseto the processor board being operatively coupled to the docking board.In one implementation, an authentication of the processor board caninclude exchanging a set of tokens between the processor board and thedocking board. The set of tokens can be, for example, a set ofpasswords, a set of codes, a set of electric signals, a set ofelectromagnetic signals, and/or the like. At 456, the docking boardsends the control signal to the processor board after the processorboard is authenticated. In one implementation, the docking board sendsthe control signal generated in the docking board or the expansion boardto the processor board, after the processor board and the docking boardexchange the set of token to confirm that the processor board isauthentic and is compatible with the docking board. At 457, the dockingboard does not send the control signal to the processor board before theprocessor board is authenticated. In one example, the docking board doesnot send signals to the processor board before the set of tokensauthenticate the processor board.

It should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are notrepresentative of all claimed innovations. As such, certain aspects ofthe disclosure have not been discussed herein. That alternateembodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of theinnovations or that further undescribed alternate embodiments may beavailable for a portion is not to be considered a disclaimer of thosealternate embodiments. Thus, it is to be understood that otherembodiments can be utilized, and functional, logical, operational,organizational, structural and/or topological modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the disclosure. As such, allexamples and/or embodiments are deemed to be non-limiting throughoutthis disclosure.

Some embodiments described herein relate to methods. It should beunderstood that such methods can be computer implemented methods (e.g.,instructions stored in memory and executed on processors). Where methodsdescribed above indicate certain events occurring in certain order, theordering of certain events can be modified. Additionally, certain of theevents can be performed repeatedly, concurrently in a parallel processwhen possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above.Furthermore, certain embodiments can omit one or more described events.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood tocontrol over dictionary definitions, definitions in documentsincorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the definedterms.

Examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, micro-code ormicro-instructions, machine instructions, such as produced by acompiler, code used to produce a web service, and files containinghigher-level instructions that are executed by a computer using aninterpreter. For example, embodiments can be implemented using Python,Java, JavaScript, C++, and/or other programming languages anddevelopment tools. Additional examples of computer code include, but arenot limited to, control signals, encrypted code, and compressed code.

The drawings primarily are for illustrative purposes and are notintended to limit the scope of the subject matter described herein. Thedrawings are not necessarily to scale; in some instances, variousaspects of the subject matter disclosed herein can be shown exaggeratedor enlarged in the drawings to facilitate an understanding of differentfeatures. In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer tolike features (e.g., functionally similar and/or structurally similarelements).

The acts performed as part of a disclosed method(s) can be ordered inany suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments can be constructed in whichprocesses or steps are executed in an order different than illustrated,which can include performing some steps or processes simultaneously,even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments. Putdifferently, it is to be understood that such features may notnecessarily be limited to a particular order of execution, but rather,any number of threads, processes, services, servers, and/or the likethat may execute serially, asynchronously, concurrently, in parallel,simultaneously, synchronously, and/or the like in a manner consistentwith the disclosure. As such, some of these features may be mutuallycontradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously present in a singleembodiment. Similarly, some features are applicable to one aspect of theinnovations, and inapplicable to others.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that eachintervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lowerlimit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in thatstated range is encompassed within the disclosure. That the upper andlower limits of these smaller ranges can independently be included inthe smaller ranges is also encompassed within the disclosure, subject toany specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the statedrange includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either orboth of those included limits are also included in the disclosure.

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in theembodiments, should be understood to mean “either or both” of theelements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present insome cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elementslisted with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “oneor more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements can optionally bepresent other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or”clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specificallyidentified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/orB”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as“comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionallyincluding elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only(optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment,to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the embodiments, “or” shouldbe understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. Forexample, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall beinterpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, butalso including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and,optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated tothe contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when usedin the embodiments, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion ofexactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, theterm “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicatingexclusive alternatives (i.e., “one or the other but not both”) whenpreceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of” “only oneof” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in theembodiments, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field ofpatent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the embodiments, the phrase“at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, shouldbe understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or moreof the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily includingat least one of each and every element specifically listed within thelist of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in thelist of elements. This definition also allows that elements canoptionally be present other than the elements specifically identifiedwithin the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers,whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or,equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least oneof A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one,optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionallyincluding elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at leastone, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (andoptionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment,to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at leastone, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally includingother elements); etc.

In the embodiments, as well as in the specification above, alltransitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,”“having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and thelike are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including butnot limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and“consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitionalphrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent OfficeManual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a docking boardconfigured to be removably coupled to a processor board that does notfunction when not operatively coupled to the docking board, the dockingboard configured to send power to and receive a control signal from theprocessor board when operatively coupled to the processor board, thedocking board configured to not send power and not receive a controlsignal when not operatively coupled to the processor board, the dockingboard configured to be removably coupled to an expansion board that isconfigured to perform a computer function that is not performed by theprocessor board and the docking board, the docking board configured tosend power and a control signal to the expansion board when the dockingboard is operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansionboard, the docking board configured to not send power and not send acontrol signal to the expansion board when the docking board isoperatively coupled to the expansion board and not operatively coupledto the processor board, and the docking board, the processor board andthe expansion board collectively defining a portable computer when thedocking board is operatively coupled to the processor board and theexpansion board.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the expansionboard is a first expansion board, the computer function is a firstcomputer function, the docking board configured to be removably coupledto a second expansion board that does not perform the first computerfunction and that is configured to perform a second computer functionthat is not performed by the processor board, the docking board and thefirst expansion board, the docking board configured to send power and acontrol signal to the second expansion board when the docking board isoperatively coupled to the processor board and the second expansionboard, the docking board configured to not send power and not send acontrol signal to the second expansion board when the docking board isnot operatively coupled to the processor board and the second expansionboard, and the docking board, the processor board, the first expansionboard and the second expansion board collectively defining the portablecomputer in a second configuration when the docking board is operativelycoupled to the processor board, the first expansion board and the secondexpansion board.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the docking boardincludes a first power filter and a second power filter, the dockingboard configured to send, via the first power filter, the power in afirst configuration to the expansion board when the expansion board isoperatively coupled to a peripheral device of a type, the docking boardconfigured to send, via the second power filter, the power in a secondconfiguration to the expansion board when the expansion board is notoperatively coupled to a peripheral device of the type.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the control signal sent by the docking board to theexpansion board is based on the control signal received by the dockingboard from the processor board.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thedocking board is configured to receive a control signal from theexpansion board and configured to send a control signal to the processorboard based on the control signal received from the expansion board. 6.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking board, when operativelycoupled to the processor board and the expansion board, is operativelydisposed between the processor board and the expansion board such thatthe processor board and the expansion board do not exchange a signalwithout passing through the docking board.
 7. A method, comprising:sending power from a docking board to a processor board when the dockingboard and the processor board are operatively coupled together, theprocessor board not functioning and the docking board not sending powerto the processor board when the docking board and the processor boardare not operatively coupled together; receiving a control signal at thedocking board from the processor board when the docking board and theprocessor board are operatively coupled together, the docking board notreceiving a control signal when not operatively coupled to the processorboard; sending power and a control signal from the docking board to anexpansion board when the docking board and the processor board areoperatively coupled together, the expansion board is configured toperform a computer function that is not performed by the processor boardand the docking board; and not sending power and a control signal fromthe docking board to the expansion board when the docking board isoperatively coupled to the expansion board and not operatively coupledto the processor board, the docking board, the processor board and theexpansion board collectively defining a portable computer when thedocking board is operatively coupled to the processor board and theexpansion board.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the expansion boardis a first expansion board, the computer function is a first computerfunction, further comprising: sending power and a control signal from adocking board to a second expansion board when the docking board, theprocessor board and the second expansion board are operatively coupledtogether, the second expansion board configured to perform a secondcomputer function that is not performed by the processor board, thedocking board and the first expansion board; and not sending power and acontrol signal from the docking board to the second expansion board whenthe docking board, the processor board and the second expansion boardare not operatively coupled together, the docking board, the processorboard, the first expansion board and the second expansion boardcollectively defining the portable computer in a second configurationwhen the docking board, the processor board, the first expansion boardand the second expansion board are operatively coupled together.
 9. Themethod of claim 7, wherein: the docking board includes a first powerfilter and a second power filter, sending the power from the dockingboard to the expansion board includes sending, via the first powerfilter, the power in a first configuration to the expansion board whenthe expansion board is operatively coupled to a peripheral device of atype, sending, via the second power filter, the power in a secondconfiguration to the expansion board when the expansion board is notoperatively coupled to a peripheral device of the type.
 10. The methodof claim 7, wherein sending the control signal from the docking board tothe expansion board is based on the control signal received by thedocking board from the processor board.
 11. The method of claim 7,further comprising: receiving a control signal at the docking board fromthe expansion board; and sending a control signal from the docking boardto the processor board based on the control signal received from theexpansion board.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the docking board,when operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board,is operatively disposed between the processor board and the expansionboard such that the processor board and the expansion board do notexchange a signal without passing through the docking board.
 13. Asystem, comprising: a processor board having a processor; an expansionboard configured to perform a computer function that is not performed bythe processor board; and a docking board configured to be removablycoupled to the processor board and the expansion board, the processorboard not functioning when not operatively coupled to the docking board,the docking board configured to send power to and receive a controlsignal from the processor board when the docking board is operativelycoupled to the processor board, the docking board configured to not sendpower to and not receive a control signal from the processor board whenthe docking board is not operatively coupled to the processor board, thedocking board configured to send power and a control signal to theexpansion board when the docking board is operatively coupled to theprocessor board and the expansion board, the docking board configured tonot send power and not send a control signal to the expansion board whenthe docking board is operatively coupled to the expansion board and notoperatively coupled to the processor board, the docking board, theprocessor board and the expansion board collectively defining a portablecomputer when the docking board is operatively coupled to the processorboard and the expansion board.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein theexpansion board is a first expansion board, the computer function is afirst computer function, the system further comprising: a secondexpansion board that does not perform the first computer function andthat is configured to be removably coupled to the docking board, thesecond expansion board configured to perform a second computer functionthat is not performed by the processor board, the docking board and thefirst expansion board, the docking board configured to send power and acontrol signal to a second expansion board when the docking board isoperatively coupled to the processor board and the second expansionboard, the docking board configured to not send power and not send acontrol signal to the second expansion board when the docking board isoperatively coupled to the second expansion board and not operativelycoupled to the processor board, and the docking board, the processorboard, the first expansion board and the second expansion boardcollectively defining a portable computer when the docking board isoperatively coupled to the processor board, the first expansion boardand the second expansion board.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein thedocking board is configured to send the power in a first configurationto the expansion board when the expansion board is operatively coupledto a peripheral device of a type and configured to send the power in asecond configuration to the expansion board when the expansion board isnot operatively coupled to a peripheral device of the type.
 16. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the docking board is configured to receive acontrol signal from the expansion board and configured to send a controlsignal to the processor board based on the control signal received fromthe expansion board.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the dockingboard, when operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansionboard, is operatively disposed between the processor board and theexpansion board such that the processor board and the expansion board donot exchange a signal without passing through the docking board.
 18. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the docking board is configured toauthenticate the expansion board in response to the expansion boardbeing operatively coupled to the docking board, the docking boardconfigured to send the control signal to the expansion board afterauthenticating the expansion board and not send the control signal tothe expansion board before authenticating the expansion board.
 19. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the docking board is configured toauthenticate the processor board in response to the processor boardbeing operatively coupled to the docking board, the docking boardconfigured to send a first power to the processor board beforeauthenticating the processor board and send a second power to theprocessor board after authenticating the processor board, the secondpower being different than the first power.
 20. The system of claim 13,wherein: the processor board includes an authentication circuit, thedocking board is configured to send, in response to the processor boardbeing operatively coupled to the docking board, a power to theauthentication circuit that prevents at least a portion of the powerfrom being sent to remaining portions of the processor board until theprocessor board is authenticated by the authentication circuit.